Averygoodun's Personal File

Geoff and I both have strep throat pretty badly. On the plus sides, it expressed itself today instead of this Tuesday, and urgent care was open to give us drugs. Feeling like this on Christmas day would suck donkey balls, so I'm glad that shouldn't happen.

Holy Mother of Medicine, though! Geoff's scrip cost almost $100!!! Ouch! Mine only cost $16, which is almost a steal for 80 pills. (Because I'm allergic to all the cillins, I get to take 8 pills a day for ten days. yay.)

Ah well. Hopefully we'll feel better by tomorrow. And hopefully the antibiotics won't mess us up too badly.

On another plus side, this will keep me from eating (what's left of) the rum balls. I've only had two so far, but Page secretly pigged out on them this week. And he wondered why his stomach hurt! *rolls eyes*

Besides the illness, life is pretty good. I'm looking forward to Christmas almost as much as Page is, but I'm enjoying the anticipation more than he is, I think. I'm sad that I won't be able to do all the cooking I wanted to do before hand, but hey, the holiday season doesn't end Christmas day!

But now I need to go be horizontal again. I've been horizontal an awful lot this last week, but, well, it's what feels good, so I shall continue to do it.

If I don't get back on beforehand, Merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate it, and Happy Holidays to everyone else.

We have such shit timing...

So, Page was called into the vice principal's office today for hitting another kid. He did apologize to the kid, he briefly explained what happened to me over the phone (from the veep's office) and when he came home he was as sweet as could be until he took something I said the wrong way and assumed I meant I didn't like him (the conversation was about my troubles, and how I wasn't going to talk about them with him as it's just not appropriate. I said I talked about those things with friends. His face crumpled). I explained to him what I meant (he's my son first, then my friend), which took about ten to fifteen minutes of crying for him to accept enough to come back down to me.

And then he bawled - straight-up bawled - for ten minutes after crawling onto my lap with an apology for being so mean to me.

OMG. My poor, poor son!

Before the meltdown happened, I managed to get a fairly detailed story of what happened today. There wasn't any of his usual grandstanding or embellishments, so I think he was telling (his version of) the truth.

This is my letter to his teacher in response to what he told me:

( Another long letter to the teacher. Oh. Yay. )


Anything I should add? Take out? Rephrase?

I'm thinking that the school's response to this (second) letter (including how quickly they do respond - vacation is next week) will determine whether I look into some of the charter schools around. I don't really want to pull Page out of the neighborhood school, but third grade is the beginning of the truly vicious behaviors, and he's different enough to be a target.

*sigh* God, this has been a fairly shitty fortnight. And, to top it off, tomorrow I have what's looking to be a difficult test. And then a three hour make-up lab. But at least then the week is over. I will only have to catch up on cooking, cleaning and shoveling (another snow dump is scheduled for Sunday). Yay.

( Because, really, how much whining can one person do? )
Happy weekend, all.

Oh, right. I mostly have. After my shower this morning, I went back to bed and slept for five hours. It helped quite a lot. Until the mail came...

Mail arrived bringing with it some of the forms I needed. And with the forms came a nasty surprise which makes me even more upset with Citibank than I was before. I hope that it'll resolve itself into what was expected (and what was advised, damn it), but... Grr.

Also, our main bank (not Citi!) recently redid its online thingy, enhancing security and all that. Apparently, part of the process involved cancelling (or at least invalidating) all previous scheduled transfers, which means we got dinged for a late fee. I might complain about that, though I imagine it was in some letter at some point beyond my memory's capacity. I'm also unhappy that the notice of the late fee took six days to reach us. It's a local letter. It should have been here last Friday.

So basically, I'm generally in a foul mood now. There isn't enough time to do anything on my to do list except my accounting reading (with minimal note taking. Maybe), which annoys me even more. Granted, I'm happy for the nap, seeing as I must have needed the sleep rather desperately.

But grr.

And *pout*

At the moment, Page is convinced that the funniest thing in the entire world is the word 'chicken'. He will intersperse conversation with random exclamations such as, "I like chicken!" and "is that a chicken?!" Sometimes, it's simply, "Chicken!"

I have no idea where this came from. I have no idea how long it's going to last. I do enjoy that this is a good sign where development of a sense of humor is concerned. I also enjoy his laugh, especially when it's pure and uncontrolled. He has such a great laugh (still).

On the downside, it doesn't exactly offer stimulating conversation. We spent dinner doing an odd, silly guessing game that concerned the definition of chicken.

On the plus side, I'm tired enough that I found it all pleasantly silly and quite enough stimulation for the time being.


( Other ramblings )

That was a lot ramblier than I intended. Ah well. I'm operating on two (maybe three) hours of sleep, and you know what? I'm tired. And I'm also off to bed. Right. Now.

G'nite!

So, in my quest to get my belly better, I've been avoiding tea the last couple of days (as well as doing lots of other things). I've been having coffee, instead (it's not my stomach that's at issue; it's my dang gut). Yesterday, I had a cup of coffee with almost no side-effects. It did its job and allowed me to wake up enough to study. Today, however, I feel the shakes coming on.

Oops.

Guess my instant coffee (all I had) has more caffeine than the school's regular blend. Now I know.


In other insignificant news, I spent all day at school yesterday (my day off) while waiting for my car to get an oil change. That's the nice thing about going to a technical/community college. Considering the only thing I really needed to do yesterday was study (and it would have taken me an hour and two buses to get home), I packed a lunch and hung out at school. So, I got motivation to study (study, exercise or be bored to tears? Study it is!) and managed to finish reading the entire, horrible, boring accounting chapter in four two hours (it felt like four), I also managed to get the car's oil changed for $13.67.

And the assistant prof said the car looked like it was in decent shape. I'm going to talk to the maintenance guy today to see if I can schedule the car for that class... *crosses fingers* With any luck, this car will hold out for another four or five years without costing us a the price of a new car fortune.

(I love serendipity, btw. I vocalize worry about not being able to afford to keep this car, and the next week, a call goes out at the school for students' and faculty's cars to work on! Yay!)


In more significant news, I'm really, really happy that the voter ID law in PA has been blocked. I'm actually not against requiring voter IDs, but I really, really object to voter ID laws that are passed in election years. Also, I think that any voter ID law needs to grandfather in the elderly (say... those over 75 or 80) as not needing the same level of ID. Sometimes, birth certificates are just not available. For example, my grandmum's birth place's town hall was destroyed by fire, and along with the hall went all the records. (And the town didn't even exist any more by the time she went looking for it.)

Now if only the NH voter ID law would be blocked. Just for this election, mind. I think it's rather insane not to require ID to vote, but, like PA, the law was passed this year, and that's just trying to disenfranchise people, pure and simple.

Saw a protester with a sign basically saying that the war in Afghanistan is Obama's war.

Um...

At least my memory isn't THAT bad.

*

Geoff is getting better, but the kid and I aren't doing quite so well. Hopefully I'll be able to kick the boys out of the house (to church) tomorrow, but I suspect I will not be getting any alone time this weekend. *shrug* At least I picked up some good movies at the library for us to spend our time (and little energy) on. ("The Adventures of Tin Tin" and "Harvey")

Unfortunately, I will have to spend a fair amount of time today and tomorrow (should my brain ever return my calls) studying. First test coming up next week, and I have a fair amount to review.

Speaking of class, I got into a noisy debate yesterday during break with one of my classmates who thinks Social Security is only for those who didn't plan well. I wasn't the only one who said that was bullshit, but I was, perhaps the most ardent. He still insisted that he didn't think he should have to pay into SS, since he can invest his money better. And he really, really didn't seem to get the fact that society and economy are tied very closely together, and the economy suffers when the society does. At least in the current paradigm. His "good" investments wouldn't be worth shit should society either collapse or revolt, and that's what would happen should the safety nets go away (which is, in turn, what would happen should SS be an optional program).

He's a young thing, but his current job is also as a financial planner. Makes me feel scared and sorry for his clients. And our economy.

And it was kinda funny... My professor displayed a bit of his own personal cognitive dissonance shortly after the debate by saying in an aside that he wished Bush were still president, and then going on to complain about how high-paid execs get instant raises since FICA currently caps out at $110,100. I mean, I agree with him about the outrageousness of that cap (it doesn't even go up to the top earners of "the middle class!"), but Bush's record isn't exactly known for increasing the tax load of the wealthy.

Ach well.

I think I'm gonna go watch "Tin Tin" now. I hope it's as good as everyone said it was.

( Ranty rant rant )


In better news, I have managed two days of bicycle riding in a row. Yesterday's ride was far more enjoyable, mainly because it was drier out, so it was far more comfortable, but also because Page was less grumpy. Well, Page and my muscles. However, despite my muscle protesting ("WTF!?! We just did this yesterday!"), I managed the two miles in about 5 minutes less time today than yesterday (10 minutes instead of 15). And I managed to push myself to go a full mile before taking a water stop.

Page was an absolute stinker, though. He even lied about how many laps he'd done. grr.

I think I will probably take tomorrow off where riding is concerned, and do some digging, instead. My backyard, especially around the veggie beds, is looking rather unkempt. I'd like to have a tidy yard going into winter, which, happily, is not that far away.

This morning, when I stepped outside, I stepped right back in to get a jacket. A very light, canvas jacket to be sure, but it was actually cool enough that my shorts and cap sleeve T-shirt were not going to be enough! SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! Summer is ending! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!

Tomorrow morning I don't have to be anywhere. So tomorrow morning, I will get up reasonably early, eat breakfast and get out into the garden in my bug-suit while it's still cool enough to work.

*squees again*

Anyway, that's about it. I think I'm probably going to go read the rest of the day away, as there's nothing else that's pressing for my attention. I probably should read the first chapters of my textbooks (the big one arrived today), but I think I'll finish off Cannery Row, instead. :-D

Yesterday was rough, but, surprisingly, today is just fine because:

1) Geoff and I talked last night about our options and have more or less figured out what we're going to do. I am relieved that he feels the same as me that the business' health insurance offerings have got to the point of being a scam (or, more precisely, a sinkhole). He will remain covered for what seems an absurd amount for one relatively healthy person (who's been to the doctor twice in the last two years, though is on medication), I will get covered (either through State or pitiful school plan) and Page will be uncovered for 6 months so as to get him onto the reasonably priced state kids plan when he's eligible.

I always feel better once a plan is in place, even if the plan is kind of sketchy.

2) I'm happy. I realized, as I was driving to school this morning, that even though I was groggy and worried and whatnot, I was smiling. Perhaps it's the vitamin D kicking in (I started taking it again for the season), or maybe it's the anti-depressants. Probably, it's both those chemistry wizards combined with the intellectual stimulation of school, which is slaking a thirst I hadn't even realized I was dying from.

It probably helps that this morning was 3) an absolutely beautiful fall morning. It was foggy to begin with, but then the sun burst through until only a brilliant blue sky remained. Now it is a lovely temperature, sunny and calm. Perfect.

4) Because it is fall today (Happy Equinox!), the pumpkins and squash are coming into season. I do so love pumpkins and squash. I have missed their presence in my diet these last four months. I came home from the farm yesterday with a Trader Joe's bag laden so full of goodies that it broke. (It was an ill-used bag, poor thing.) And that was without the watermelon and two decent-sized pumpkin-y squashes! I am very much looking forward to cooking with this week's vegetables!

I also brought home a beautiful kale leaf.

( Fall Color! )

5) My tea this morning was perfect. And it was perfect without adding any honey. Yay!


So, even though there are not so great things (I'm tired, Geoff left for three days this morning, Page is developing a cold and only has a half-day today, my vision is wonky, which makes the reading portion of my to do list difficult), I am rather glad to be alive. I hope you are, too.

Looking at my bank balance this morning and subtracting all the expected expenses in the coming month, I realized we are coming up on empty. Soooooo... here's a listing, with pictures, of all my artwork for sale. And seeing as I'm desperate, I've put most of them on sale - 30-50% off.

Please take into account that every monitor is set differently, and so the actual colors may be different to what is seen. I have tried to get them as close as possible, however.

( Image Heavy )